Radio Times editor Gill Hudson said: "Some bright spark on RT decided that it would be a fantastic idea ... despite knowing exactly how much effort goes into producing just one cover in a normal working week.

"RT readers have an amazing track record in donating stupendous amounts for Comic Relief, so let's hope that the 2009 fundraising easily matches our past efforts."

Meirion Jones, Newsnight's former head of investigations, told Press Gazette in an interview - published this week - that he felt "everyone involved on the right side of the Savile argument has been forced out of the BBC".